Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson celebrates his first period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightningduring NHL hockey action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

QMI Agency

Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson watches his first period goal against the battles with Tampa Bay Lightning enter the net during NHL hockey action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

QMI Agency

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop is tended to by training staff after a collision in a game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot celebrates his first period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during NHL hockey action at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

QMI Agency

Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning during NHL hockey action against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop is assisted by training staff and teammates after a collision in a game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday January 30, 2014. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

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The Senators woke up in a wildcard playoff spot Friday morning -- and it’s bound to be a wild ride right to the end.

A 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lighting in front of 19,787 at the Canadian Tire Centre gave the club 58 points. By virtue of the Philadelphia Flyers' 5-3 loss last night to Anaheim, the Senators are ranked eighth in the east. But it's a tight race, and is likely to stay that way.

The Senators were led by a two-point effort -- including a goal -- from Bobby Ryan. Kyle Turris, Zack Smith, Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot added goals, and at the back end they got a stellar 35-save effort from Craig Anderson.

Alex Killorn, Tyler Johnson and Victor Hedman were able to beat Anderson.

Former Senators’ goalie Ben Bishop started for the Bolts, he didn’t finish. Less than two minutes into the game he left with what appeared to be a head injury after taking a knee to the back of the head. Backup Anders Lindback took over.

“We’ve just got to keep picking up points and everybody else is going to keep picking up points,” said captain Jason Spezza. “As you get down to that last 10-to-15 games, you want to put yourself in a position to be watching the standings and making a run at it.

“We knew we had six games in nine days going into the break. It’s 12 points. We want to try to take a good chunk of those and go into the break feeling good about our team.”

There will be plenty of racetrack left after the Olympic break, but the Senators finished January with 7-2-3 record and 17 of a possible 24 points. It would appear, however, they can’t afford to let up.

“It’s incredible. You win a couple and you are looking at the No. 8. You lose a couple and you are looking at the No. 12 seed,” said Ryan, who scored his 20th of the season. “If we stick to our structure and win our games it will play itself out. The scoreboard hasn’t been kind to us either. Other teams are finding a way to win. It’s going to be a battle all the way through.”

Since nothing comes easy for the Senators, they couldn’t just close it out after building a 5-1 lead. Instead, they allowed Johnson to score shorthanded and Hedman to pull the Bolts to within two goals late.

Thankfully for the Senators the comeback attempt by Tampa fell short despite the Bolts firing 19 shots in the third.

“We let them back into the game a little bit,” said Anderson. “Winning is fun. You want to make sure you win more than you lose.”

The Senators pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the first after they outplayed the Bolts in every aspect. The Lightning didn’t have much in the way of chances on the seven shots Anderson faced.

Bishop’s return to Ottawa didn’t last long. He left 1:49 into the game, shortly after Methot opened the scoring. Bishop appeared to suffer a concussion after he got a knee and skate in the head while trying to retrieve a loose puck in the circle.

“It was rough to see Bishop go down and he’s played so well against us. I’m sure that didn’t hurt us,” said Methot.

A beautiful pass from Spezza to Karlsson set up the club’s second goal. He took the puck down low and Lindback had no chance to get back as Karlsson deposited it upstairs.

The Senators were in control through 40 minutes and held a 4-1 lead.

Turris’ eighth goal on a perfect setup by Ryan with only 1:20 left in the second was enough to put the Bolts’ away. Ryan hit the boards hard and was slow to get up, but seemed fine later.

A turnover by Radko Gudas allowed Smith to restore the club’s two-goal lead when he got the puck directly on his stick, turned and beat Lindback glove side at 6:25 of the second. That goal couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Senators open a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Ottawa Senators knock off Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3

The Senators moved to within striking distance of a wildcard playoff spot Thursday night and it’s bound to be a wild ride right to the end.

A 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lighting in front of 19,787 at the Canadian Tire Centre gave the club 58 points and while the Senators are technically on the outside looking in for the final spot they’re in the race with a week before the Olympic break.

Led by a two-point effort from Bobby Ryan along with goals from Kyle Turris, Zack Smith, Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot along with a stellar 35-save effort from Craig Anderson, the Senators looked like a team poised for a playoff spot.

Alex Killorn, Tyler Johnson and Victor Hedman were able to beat Anderson. While former Senators’ goalie Ben Bishop started, he didn’t finish after less than two minutes into the game with what appeared to be a head injury and backup Anders Lindback took over.